Saxophone mouthpiece



Sept. 27 1927,

' D. A. MCDONALD l SAXOPHONE MOUTHPIECE Filed oct. 17. 1921 Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES DAVID A. MCDONALD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SAXOPHONE MOUTHPIECE.

Application led October 17, 1921.

My invention relates to an improvement in mouth-pieces for saxophones and similar instruments, and has for its object the provision of a mouth-piece which is adjustable so as to compensate for varying adjustments in the length of the instrument. In instruments of the saxophone family which are provided with a tapering tube, the mouth-piece is usually provided with an enlarged chamber which operates in the nature of a resonating chamber to produce full and clear notes. These instruments are very sensitive and it is found that when the length of the instrument is varied, the size of this resonating chamber in the mouthpiece should also be varied in order to properly rectify the instrument so that all the notes are full and true. If such adjustment of the resonating chamber in the mouthpiece is not made, then it is found that certain of thenotes will be out of tune.

These and other features and objects of my invention will be more readily understood by having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mouthpiece embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view with the reed and clamping member removed.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

As illustrated, my improved mouth-piece consists essentially of the tubular member 5, the forward end 6 of which is tapered and provided with an opening 7 in the upper portion thereof. Over this opening the reed 8 is clamped by means of the usual clamping member 9. Fitted within the tubular end of this mouth-piece there is an adjustable member 10 which is `provided with a cork sleeve 11, or other means, whereby a tight but sliding joint is provided between the member 10 and mouth-piece 5. This member 10 is adapted to be connected with the end of the tube 15 of the instrument, such as a saxophone, in the usual manner in which the mouth-pieces are connectedthat is, by slipping over the end of this tube Serial No. 508,071.

which tube is usually provided with a cork joint 14 such as that shown between the members 5 and 10. It is, of course, understood that other forms of joint may be employed between these members, but the cork joint illustrated is found to be very convenient and satisfactory.

The inner or forward end of the member 10 is provided with a curved tapered surface 11a, so that the space 12 Within the mouthpiece beyond the end of the member 10 is enlarged with respect to the chamber 13 formed by the interior bore of the member 10. This space 12 thus forms the enlarged or resonating chamber of the mouth-piece. lVhen it is desired to vary the size of this resonating chamber, it is merely necessary to slide the member 10 in or out of the mouth-piece 5, and in this manner very accurate adjustment may be obtained. It is found that very slight adjustment of this chamber is necessary in order to compensate for varying adjustments in the instrument, but these slight adjustments produce a marked rectifying eifect upon the notes produced.

l While I have illustrated and described one particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that I do not Wish to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and intent of my invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a wind instrument, a tube, a reed mouthpiece, said mouthpiece comprising an outer member forming a resonating chamber of relatively large diameter, and a telescopically mounted tubular member Within said outer member, and in turn longitudinally adjustable on said tube to change the effective length thereof, the outer end of said inner tubular member forming a4 shoulder extending the full diameter of said chamber to dene the limit and size, whereby the size of said resonating chamber may be independently adjusted relative to the adjusted position of said tube and said inner tubular member.

2. In a wind instrument, a tube, a reed mouthpiece teleseopioally mounted and adjustable longitudinally upon the end of said tube, said mouthpiece comprising two elescopic longitudinal adjusting sections, the outer section having a bore of substantially uniform diameter at its rearward end, and

the inner section slidable within said bore and having a shoulder at the forward end thereof extending the full diameter of said 10 bore.

Signed by me at Chicago. Illinois, this 12th day of Oct., 1921.

DAVID A. MGDONALD. 

